Liudmyla Humeniuk Editor, English Language Bureau
I am happy that the New Year and Christmas festivities are
over, not because I didn't enjoy the holiday, but because to many of our
readers this seemed a rather drawn-out interval. Some became worried about
the pause and started calling and even visiting the office, wanting to
know what was wrong. Well, here is the first New Year's issue, a double
one so we could cover events in Ukraine during the holidays.
We hope that in the New Year our readers will remain as faithful and
exacting as they were throughout 1998. During the past year we offered
you what we thought were the best features carried by the daily Ukrainian
Den (and the latter had quickly won the reputation of one of the
country's most respected publications). We wanted you to have a clearer
view of our social and political palette, diverse economic issues, cultural
life, sports, and polls. We set ourselves the task of conveying original
texts in translation within the shortest physically possible period, preserving
as much as possible of their quality and color. This was not easy, but
we felt responsible and did our best.
We started this project last year because we wanted to make the Ukrainian
press - as represented by our staff and part-time journalists - accessible
to all those wishing to know more about Ukraine but unable to surmount
the language barrier. Another reason was that we wanted to put across the
idea of many Ukrainians about having civilized relationships not only with
our neighbors but partaking of world civilization in a broader sense of
the word. This could probably be considered our contribution to the building
a democratic civil society in Ukraine. Time has proven that the project
was not only a good idea but also a necessity. Eventually, our weekly digest,
The Day, was made available on the Internet, meaning accessibility
to an audience of millions. Our information about life in Ukraine, which
many still identify with Russia, believing Kyiv to be a Soviet or Communist
city (as evidenced by letters received from Guatemala, Argentina, Jamaica,
Nepal, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, etc.), is now easily obtainable in
any part of the world. And all this thanks to the Internet. Maybe a "cold
medium," according to one of our readers, but making it possible for us
to be aware of the presence of all our readers, not virtual but real. We
know how you feel about Ukraine, what worries and interests you here. It
is a shame that Ukraine produces too little good news. Needless to say,
we would be happy to publish more positive encouraging news. Regrettably,
life here is precisely the way you can feel reading The Day, so
our duty is to reflect it as honestly as possible. Our main principle is
communicating with the reader in a straightforward unbiased manner. We
are gratified to know that you have noticed and appreciated this approach,
pointing out that it takes courage and that we have measured up. Frankly
speaking, there are indications that we may before long find ourselves
Ukraine's only truthful newspaper.
To an extent we have delegated ourselves one of the functions of the
state: building the nation's image in the eyes of the international community,
demonstrating its tremendous intellectual and cultural potential which,
unfortunately, has not as yet been put to full use by our state.
It seems that the Den copes with one of its tasks quite effectively,
making Ukrainians think seriously about how we live in Ukraine and why
the situation is so disheartening. We hope that this will encourage them
take a definite stand come the fall.
Personally, I would like to add that I am happy to work with The
Day's compact team, for every member is a first rate and genuinely
dedicated professional, keenly aware of his/her responsibility before Ukraine
and every reader.








